Free Bird (No.20)
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Released as a single in late 1974, "Free Bird" became Lynard Skynard's 2nd Top 40 hit on the American Billboard chart in early 1975, peaking at No.19.
Sadly, in October 1977, Lead guitarist Steve Gaines, vocalist Cassie Gaines, and frontman Ronnie Van Zant all lost their lives when a plane the band had hired crashed just before landing.
Following the plane crash, all of the songs played by the surviving band members were performed as instrumentals. This tradition lasted until 1989, when an near rioting audience persuaded the band to sing, something they had vowed not to do.